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Jonny Evans is convinced Manchester United have a \u201cgood thing going\u201d under Erik ten Hag despite their shaky start to the season.<\/p>\n
Things have gone awry after a promising first campaign under the Dutchman, with the Red Devils losing four of their first six matches in all competitions for the first time since 1986.<\/p>\n
There were some mitigating factors in that poor run but that did not stop the pressure mounting on the Old Trafford giants heading into Saturday evening\u2019s Premier League trip to Burnley.<\/p>\n
Ten Hag\u2019s troops were far from their best but Bruno Fernandes\u2019 brilliant volley secured a 1-0 win for a side that begin their Carabao Cup defence at home to Crystal Palace on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
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Evans watched February\u2019s Wembley triumph from the stands and is now back at the club he came through at as a boy, with the experienced defender confident about United\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had some up and down moments at Man United over the years,\u201d said the defender, who won three Premier League titles and a Champions League during his previous spell at the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you get that if you want to be at the top. You know, it\u2019s going to be very up and down.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be able to deal with setbacks and this club is a fantastic club, always want to be challenging at the top, so it\u2019s all part and parcel of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe manager\u2019s got a good thing going here.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a fan of the club so I was able to watch them a lot last year, been at both finals to support. Like I say, I think the manager\u2019s got a good thing going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evans made his second appearance of the season and first United start in eight-and-a-half years on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old impressed against Vincent Kompany\u2019s Burnley, scoring a goal that was disallowed before providing an exceptional pass for Fernandes\u2019 volleyed winner.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was great,\u201d the beaming Northern Irishman said after his 200th United appearance. \u201cI was really looking forward to it all day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got the shout yesterday in training that I was going to be starting, so I couldn\u2019t wait for the game, really.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was more nervous in the pre-season, my first pre-season game, to be honest, playing up in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t feel any nerves tonight. I actually felt a lot of excitement going into the game. I couldn\u2019t wait for it and I felt good, I felt ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evans produced an impressive all-round display at Turf Moor, leading captain Fernandes to pass on the man of the match award that he had been handed.<\/p>\n
The centre-back joked it was just the third of a career he never expected to return to such heights having left Leicester on the back of relegation and an injury-hit campaign.<\/p>\n
Asked if he ever thought he would get back to this level, Evans immediately responded: \u201cNo, definitely not.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a case of winding down. I think people\u2019s career trajectories kind of end up that way and it\u2019s very difficult for a club when you\u2019re 35 years old to take a chance on you.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a lot of injury problems last year as well, so for the club to do that and see the value in me, I\u2019m very grateful to be given the opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn one side it feels really surreal and then on the other side it just feels completely normal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s quite difficult to get my head around sometimes, but I\u2019m loving it.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a 35-year-old I suppose to come back in \u2013 they wanted me to come back in and provide cover \u2013 not many people get to do that.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI know it\u2019s going be a big challenge but hopefully it\u2019s one that I can take on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like it\u2019s one that was perfect for me at this stage of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n